The meeting passed without a hitch. Even those most worried that an expedition against Dongyi would spark popular unrest, or that the two True Dragons would emerge together and inflict devastating losses, completely set aside their reservations when confronted with the oath Zhang Xing had required the whole gang to swear before his accession... for this was not merely a personal oath to Emperor Zhang, but a political promise the entire Exorcising the Dragon Gang had made to the world. No one had the right to oppose it.
They then approved, on the basis of Xu Shiying's proposal, a military deployment that possibly represented the greatest strength the entire Exorcising the Dragon Gang could muster, along with a campaign plan to conquer Dongyi, then march south to Demon Island and complete unification.
Nor was that all. In her capacity as Intendant of the Jing'an Directorate, Bai Yousi submitted an additional proposal to conscript every cultivator in the world at Condensing the Core or above. Even Thousand Gold Sect Master Sun Siyuan and Daoist Chonghe, head of the Three-One Orthodox Church, were to receive summonses-the reasoning being that this was a war to unite the world, and every mortal bore responsibility.
In addition, Chen Bin, First Chancellor of the Southern Office and the official designated to remain in charge of the Eastern Capital during this expedition, submitted a special proposal. Citing the need to establish a system of succession for the court in the face of the two dragons' overwhelming power, he secured formal approval for Bai Yousi's appointment as deputy chief.
Cui Suchen, General Manager of the Ministry of Justice, added a proposal for a nationwide amnesty for able-bodied prisoners, allowing service transporting military supplies to count for twice the time served.
Once all this had been settled, and as